Ingot mold



Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE INGOI MOLD Application 111m 11 m 20, 1927, Serial No. 185,172. Renewed September 23, 1929.

My invention relates broadly to ingot molds for the top pouring of steel ingots in which the mold cavity is open at the bottom, the bottom opening being sealed by a suitable device during the pouring operation; and more particularly to molds of the type wherein the bottom opening is sealed by a removable base which must be held tightly in position against the mold to permit an ingot to be formed therein.

My invention relates still more particularly to a novel means for eflecting a tight connection between an ingot mold and a removable base.

Ingot molds are well known which are provided with a removable and reversible base,

such base being adapted to have its faces which normally come in contact with the molten. metal machined to renew their 29 smoothness after having become pitted. A mold of this general type is disclosed in the United States patent to Fogarty, No.

1,377 ,962, issued May 10, 1921. In the F0- garty patent the removable base is held in place by means of a stepped keeper with which a number of pins are adapted to cooperate, such pins extending through suitable holes in. downwardly extending portions of the mold. In such molds, it is necessary, in removing the base, to turn the mold upside down and to hammer each of the individual pins out of engagement with the stepped keeper; then again, after the base has been machined or reversed, as the case may be, inserted again and the pins hammered tight, to reverse the position of the mold for subsequent pouring operat ons. Also, unless each of the pins is driven against the keeper with exactly the same ressure the base is not held against the mold bottom with a uniform pressure and consequently fins are likely to be formed at the bottom of the ingot by reason of metal flowing between the mold and the side of the base not tightly held thereagainst.

By the present invention is provided an ingot -mold having a removable reverslble base which may be easily removed and replaced without turning the entire mold up- 50 side down and with a minimum of labor and waste of time, and which maybe tightly held in operative position against the mold with a pressure which is substantially uniform at all portions thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a vertical central section through an ingot mold;

Figure 2 is a bottom lan view of an ingot mold as shown in. igure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial elevation of the lower portion of an ingot mold;

Figure 4.- is a perspective view of. a removable reversible base;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a circular cam for use in holding the base in position;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a locking 'l evice for use in holding the base in posi- Figure 7 is a central section throu h the lower portion of an ingot mold formin an embodiment of my invention different romthat shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a locking de vice differing in its detail construction from that shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is an elevation of the locking device shown in Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, an ingot mold 2 is provided having the usual lifting lugs 3 and being preferably equipped with a hot-top 4 for reasons well understood in the art. The mold shown is of the type having its interior tapered toward the lower end, although the invention is not limited in this respect, being equally applicable to a mold having its interior tapered in the opposite direction. The inside wall of the mold is provided with a shoulder 5 against which a removable reversible base 6 is adapted to be held to form the bottom of the mold cavity. The con struction thus far described is of the usual type as well known in the art.

.The mold 2 is provided with downwardly extending projections 7, such rojections being spaced about the circum erence of the mold. Each of the projections 7 is provided with a lateral slot 8 extending into the projection from one side thereof. This construction is shown in detail in Figure 3.

Ada ted to abut against the lower surface of the base 6 to hold it in operative osition against the shoulder of the mold is what is herein for convenience referred to as a circular cam 9. This circular cam is provided with a substantially flat face 10 adapted to engage the base 6, and with an op ositely disposed face having circumferentially tapered portions 11, as clearly shown in Figure 5. Each of the tapered rtions 11 preferably is of uniform slope rom' end to end, thus providing a series of similar cam surfaces. Centrally disposed of the circular cam 9 on the face thereof havi the inclined cam surfaces 11 is an extension 12 having therein at substantially right angles to each other a pair of circular holes 13 extending through the projection.

Adapted to cooperate with the circular cam 9 to hold the base 6 in place is a looking device 14, such device being formed with a ring 15 having secured thereto at spaced intervals cross pieces 16. These cross pieces 16 extend both inwardly and outwardly of the rin the inwardly extending portions thereo being provided with inclined cam surfaces 17 adapted to engage the cam surfaces 11 of the circular cam 9. The internal diameter of the ring 15 is somewhat greater than the external diameter of the circular cam 9, whereby the cam may be substantially contained within the ring, the respective cam portions 11 and 17 bein in engagement. The outwardly extendin rtions 18 of the cross pieces 16 have t eir top and bottom faces parallel.

'When the base 6 is in'position in the mold and the circular cam 9 1n lace against the lower surface of the base, t 1e locking device 14 is placed against the circular cam so that the extensions 18 thereof may be rotated to enter the lateral slots 8 in the downward extensions of the mold. The projections 18 will thus bear against the lower surfaces of the slots 8. The entrance of the projections 18 into the slots 8 is effected by a counter-clockwise rotation of the locking de vice 14, viewing Figure 2. After the locking device is in place, a suitable tool, such as a crowbar, is inserted between the downward projections 7 of the mold and into one of the holes 13 in the projection 12 of the circular cam. By means of the bar, the'cam 9 is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Figure 2, causing the cam surfaces 11 to bear forcibly against the cam surfaces 17 of the inwardly extending portions of the cross pieces 16. This has the effect of forcing the extensions 18 of the locking device downwardly against the bottom of the slots 8, and thereby raising the circular cam 9 to tightly press the base 6 a ainst the shoulder 5.

It wil be seen that the base may thus be tightened and loosened without turning the mold upside down, it being merely necessary to slightly raise the mold by means of the traveling crane to allow it to clear the base. Also, as the circular cam 9 is being rotated, the pressure exerted thereby against the base is at all times substantially uniform throughout the area of contact between the cam and the base. The operation may be performed by a single laborer provided with a crowbar in a fraction of the time required for twice reversing the Fogarty type of mold and driving out the individual pins used to hold the keeper against the base.

In Figure 7 is shown another type of mold with which the present invention may be used. In this figure, the mold 19, has atthe lower end of its interior an inwardly extending annular flan e 20, the under side of which is machined or engagement with the removable base 21. This base may be made much smaller than the base 6 in the mold shown in Figure 1. Abutting against the under side of the base 21 is a circular cam 22 which may be in all respects simifar to the circular cam 9. Cooperating with the circular cam 22 is a locking device 23 (Figures 8 and 9), which is similar to the locking device 14 in that it has outwardly extending projections 24: adapted to enter and bear against the lower edges of the slots 25, which ma in turn be exactly similar to the slots 8 1n the type of mold shown in Figures 1 and 3. The locking device 23, however, instead of having inward extensions opposite the members 24, is provided on the body portion thereof with tapered cams 26, adapted to bear against the inclined cam surfaces of the circular cam 22 to hold the base 21 against the flange 20. By rotation of the cam 22 similarly to that of the cam 9, a close engagement between the base and the flange may be effected.

It is to be understood that the form of locking device shown in Figure 7 ma equal- 1y well be used on the type of mold s own in igure 1 and vice versa. The removable base may, if desired, have its top and bottom faces hollowed out at the center to form a rounded lower end on the ingot, as is well known in the art. In this case, the circular cam will bear against an annular portion of the base immediately surrounding the hollowed-out portion thereof.

\Vhile I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to the form shown but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In an ingot mold, a removable base, cam means engaging the base, the cam means being tapered circumferentially of the mold, and means cooperating with the cam means and the mold for hol ing the base in place against the mold. a

2. In an ingot mold, a removable base, means connected with the mold extending below the base, such means having a circumferential slot therein, and means cooperating with the base and entering the slot for holding the base in place against the mold.

3. In an ingot mold, a removable base, and cam means for holding the base in place against the mold, the cam means being rotatable to efiect a close engagement between the base andthe mold.

4. In an in ct -mold, a removable base, means for hol ing the base in place against the mold, such means being adapted to exert a substantially uniform pressure against all arts of the surface of the base engaged therey, and means for effecting a change in such pressure while maintaining it substantially uniform.

5. In an ingot mold, a removable base, cam means engaging the base, and a locking device cooperatin with the cam means for holding the base in place a ainst the mold, the cam means and the loc ing device being adapted to be relatively rotated to effect a close engagement between the base and the mold.

6. In an ingot mold, a removable base, a circular cam having circumferentially tapered portions adapted to engage the base, and a locking device comprising cam means adapted to engage such tapered portions and means adapted to engage the mold, such circular cam and locking device cooperating to hold the base in place against the mold.

7. In an ingot mold, a removable base, cam means engaging the base, and a locking device cooperating with the cam means for holding the base in place against the mold, the locking device having means adapted to engage the cam means and having extending portions adapted to engage the mold at spaced points about its circumference.

8. In an ingot mold, a removable base, a cam member adapted to engage the base, and means cooperating with the cam member for effecting a close engagement between the base and the mold, such" last mentioned; means comprising a ring having cam surfaces associated therewith for engagement with the cam member and having means for engaging the mold b'elow the base.

9. An ingot mold, comprising a removable base, leg extensions on the mold extending below the base, each of the leg extensions having a lateral slot therein, and cooperating cam members for holding the base in place against the mold, one of such members having extending portions for entering the lateral slots in the leg extensions.

10. An ingot mold, comprising a removable base, leg extensions on the mold extending below the base,-each of the leg extensions having a lateral slot therein, a circular cam having circumferentially tapered portions, such cam bein adapted to en age the lower face of the ase, and a loc 'ng device having outwardly extending portions adapted to enter the slots in the leg extensions and having cam portions adapted to engage the circumferentially tapered portions of the circular cam.

11. In an ingot mold, a removable base, and rotatablemeans for holding the base in place against the mold, such rotatable means having a cavity therein foireceiving a tool to effect rotation thereof, there being means for maintaining the rotatable means in place.

12. In an ingot mold, a removable base, and rotatable means for holding the base in place against the mold, such rotatable means having a downwardly extending projection provided with cavities for the reception of a tool to effect rotation thereof, there being means for maintaining therotatable means in place.

13. For use in an ingot mold, an article of manufacture comprising a flat face and a face disposed oppositely to such fiat face and having circumferentially tapered portions, and tool receiving means connected with the article and projecting therefrom.

14. For use in an ingot mold, an article of manufacture comprising a fiat face and a face disposed oppositely to such flat face and having a plurality of similar circumferentially tapered portions each of which begins and ends in a surface dis osed substantially at right angles to the at face of the article.

15. For use in an in 0t mold, an article of manufacture comprising a flat face and a face disposed oppositely to such fiat face and having circumferentially tapered portions and means for establishing connection with a suitable tool to effect rotation of the article.

16. For use in an ingot mold, an article of manufacture comprising a member having a substantially flat face, cam means connected with such member, and outwardl extending projections connected to sue member at spaced intervals.

17. For use in an ingot mold, an article of manufacture comprising a member having inwardly extending cam faced rojections connected thereto, and outwar ly ex.- tending projections connected to such member at spaced intervals.

g 18. For use in an ingot mold, an article of manufacture comprising a ring having connected thereto at spaced intervals; radially extending cross pieces, such cross pieces exmy hand.

HUGH MURRAY FLETCHER. 

